FEASIBILITY OF BIOLOGICALLY CONTROLLING THE LARVAE OF STORAGE MOTH INSECTS WITH HABROBRACON HEBETOR SAY (HYMENOPTERA:BRACONIDAE) IN FLOUR WAREHOUSES

Development period,survival and parasitism of H.hebetor on grain storage moth larvae,and the ability of H.hebetor to penetrate through different packaging materials and different diameters materials at 30℃ and RH 75% were investigated in laboratory conditions.The flour pollution risk of H.hebetor to penetrate through different packaging materials was discussed.The results indicated that H.hebetor could complete the egg,larva,pupa and adult development stages on Ephestia kuehniella larvae.The egg-to-adult period of H.hebetor on E.kuehniella larvae was about 12.57 d at 30℃ and RH 75%.Survival time of H.hebetor females and males were 7.6±1.7 d and 5.6±1.4 d without hosts.H.hebetor had a long lifespan for 18.8±5.3 d with E.kuehniella larvae as host,laid 247.5±78.5 eggs,paralyzed 100.6±29.7 larvae and parasitized 70.3±20.4 larvae.H.hebetor also had a long lifespan for 15.8±4.8 d with Plodia interpunctella larvae as hosts,laid 31.5±5.9 eggs,paralyzed 61.9±4.6 larvae and parasitized 13.8±6.8 larvae.Survival time of H.hebetor with hosts was about 8.2-11.2 d longer than without hosts.There was significant difference between the amount of spawned egg,paralyzed larvae,parasitized larvae with different hosts.It is hard to penetrate the flour packaging or less 0.6 mm holes.Based on the short developmental duration,high fecundity,long survival time,H.hebetor showed potent application prospects.H.hebetor could not penetrate the flour packaging,and not pollute the flour.Therefore,it was feasible to carry out the biological control of H.hebetor in flour warehouses.